The joys of mobile updates and the random duplicate :)

Given I was up and about 12 hours ago after limited sleep I am feeling remarkably spry. I assume a crash is coming and so I think I will set an alarm on the train back to Newcastle!

Gate 7 is just a short walk.. it feels like everything is a short walk at LCY, and our chariot awaits


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6f94a6921.jpeg

A very expressive sky this afternoon,! Asking for trolley bags to be checked and threatening groups 4 and 5 for random selection, not group 9… is this normal policy?

Boarding is literally a very short walk from the gate to the plane steps. Embraer 190SR this afternoon and seat 1B so no complaints about leg room


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...25abd0ff2.jpeg

Only flown on these with Air France before now so will be interesting to see how the service compares

Just for further trips (if any): LHR to LCY is Elizabeth Line to Stratford, then DLR to LCY (for every other train you have to change at Canning Town) or Elizabeth Line to Custom House plus Bus 474.

All the reasons you describe is why, despite the fact I love LCY as arrival airport, I try to avoid it as departure port.

It's great if you live or work nearby and can time your arrival, but I like to arrive at the airport with plenty of time in advance, and plan my days accordingly. Also, if you are delayed, it's not a great place to be.

In flight crew were friendly and on a mission to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves, every drink requested came back a double except my coffees :D

I had ordered the Muslim afternoon tea special meal and it was very disappointing, dry and bland, not one I’d go for again.


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...32dc47730.jpeg

Edinburgh domestic arrivals is, quite honestly, bonkers! You walk into the airport, up three flights of stairs, along what seems to be the entire length of departures, and then down three flights of stairs again!

That aside, the airport looks quite interesting so I will definitely arrange to turn up nice and early next week for a proper explore.

Out of arrivals and a short walk to the tram stop. Tram already waiting with 1 minute to departure and so I am already on the way to St Andrews Square and a short walk.. next stop Waverley Station.

I slightly misjudged the foot travel time from the tram stop to the platform, it was a long walk all the way through the station and a very crowded station at that! Made the train with a couple of minutes to spare so no time for pictures this evening but plenty of time next week.

Picked up a first class single ticket for the legroom and seat width and it is very comfortable and spacious enough for me


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2857ee477.jpeg

And a surprise, the galley attendant has just come past with table mats. I wasn’t expecting to get fed on this train, it being a weekend, so will be interesting to see what is on offer given the first class ticket was only £10 more that the standard class one.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...beb991224.jpeg

The platform whistle has been blown and we’re off on the final part of this, another, 19 hour travel day

Surprisingly generous food offering and all of it of a decent quality. Kept me occupied for the first hour of the journey.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...eeb513c94.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d4cd324bb.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...84c1103db.jpeg

There we’re also yoghurts and brownies on offer on the food trolley, many different shortbread and brownies on the tea trolley, and the cold drinks trolley included all the usual suspects for wine and spirits.

We’re currently about 70 minutes into the journey and a second coffee and tea run is already underway.

Someone has just got on board at Berwick and apparently there is also a hot meal option after Newcastle!

And done! Three down, one to go. Just back into the house at 20:10 uk time. Was a little surprised to come out of the station to the sound of explosions and the smell of gunpowder, had completely missed the fact that it is Guy Fawkes Night!

It was a very different weekend, thoroughly enjoyed the detour to London City, definitely wouldn’t do it again through choice. Also impressed by the LNER first class offering at that price point, would happily do that again, in fact I will be doing it again in reverse later this week.

Back Thursday for the trip back to Edinburgh and overnighting at an airport hotel, and hopefully if all goes to plan will take a bit of time on Friday to explore Edinburgh airport, looks interesting.

Do try the LCY arrival experience before you dismiss it completely though.

Adventurous route back JapesUK , LNER leaving Edinburgh on a Sunday night is quite often very cheap.

Similar situation for me today, AMS-DUS was cancelled, found out just before leaving NCL. The platinum service line quickly got me a new flight but it was AMS-CDG-DUS, arriving very late. So I ditched the trip at AMS and I’m now on the train across The Netherlands.

Sitting upstairs, you don’t get that on LNER!

Sitting upstairs, I gather you are not in the ICE then? Or changing in Utrecht?

I quite enjoy the train, used to travel from Coventry to Wimbledon every week for a year, virgin first class was very pleasant. From Newcastle to Heathrow the train is generally slower, similar priced or more expensive, and less reliable, otherwise I’d happily use it for an occasional change of pace. Maybe I just fly EDI more often for fun :)

How’s the service on your AMS-DUS trip? How does it compare in both time and cost?

I took the Intercity to Venlo and then a taxi from there into Germany, my final destination was not that far.

Service in J is normally a bag which contains a bottle of water and half snack. Y service is a drink from the trolley and cookie/waffle/crisps depending on time of day.

For comparison, there is no service on Dutch domestic trains (even in 1st). Venlo is a border town about 25km from Dusseldorf, trip takes 2:10 from Schiphol direct and costs ~28/47 EUR for 2nd/1st. No advance tickets available, off-peak only with a travelcard.

ICE has dynamic pricing starting at 20EUR advance tickets Amsterdam Centraal - Dusseldorf, takes also about 2:10 but all the way. Not sure about service.